Idemitsu to build mega solar power plant

TOKYO, Dec. 3 (Kyodo) — Idemitsu Kosan Co. said Monday it will build a mega solar power plant at its former refinery site in western Japan to start operation in March 2014.

The plant in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, with a capacity of 10,000 kilowatts will be the first solar power facility for the energy company. Construction work is scheduled to start next spring.

Annual energy output is projected to be about 13 million kilowatts, enough to meet power demand for around 3,800 households, Idemitsu said, adding it will sell all electricity generated by the plant to Kansai Electric Power Co., which serves western Japan.